Fuel supply and control system



y 1 F. L. HITCHCOCK ,8 3

FUEL SUPPLY AND CONTROL SYSTEM Filed May 14, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l NIG RE. 46

OUT FIE H \G H ITION IN VENTOR. F'aRREs rL. fl/rc/moc-K.

BYKMQW-HJ W F ATTORNEYi FIRE y 1936- F. L. HITCHCOCK 3 FUEL SUPPLY AND CONTROL SYSTEM Filed May 14, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 i 462450 455 454 44 ATTORNEYJ.

y 3 F. HITCHCQCK 2,041,833

FUEL SUPPLY AND CONTROL SYSTEM Filed May 14, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I I V500 BY if M ATTORNEYfi.

and in the direction of the arrows.

Patented May 26, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to an automatically controlled heating system.

The -chief object of this invention is to automatically regulate the supply of fuel for combustion required for heating and also contemplates the automatic regulation of the fuel supply dependent upon the condition of the fire at the time that heat is required.

Another object of the invention is to include in such a system, a furnace having an automatic control for insuring a predetermined draft through the fire, such draft being specifically of the natural -draft type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a solid fuel feeding mechanism of the automatic stoker type wherein the fuel is supplied to the furnace as and when required, and the ash therefrom is automatically removed in the operation of the fuel feeding mechanism.

The chief feature of the invention consists in the accomplishment of the foregoing objects.

An additional feature consists in the thermostatic regulation of the amount offuel supplied determinable by the fire condition, in turn, determinable by the temperature of the flue gases.

Other features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the detailed description of the various parts.

The full nature of the invention will be more clearly understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a complete diagrammatic layout of the system including a furnace equipped with a motor operable fuel feeding device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the switch control box supporting the thermo-responsive flue gas operable control, the latter being shown in central section. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one form of automatic switch moving'mecha'nism and may be considered to be taken in the plane 33 of Fig. 1 Fig. 4 is an enlarged site elevational view of the draft damper control arm and may be considered to have been taken in the plane of line 44 of Fig. 1 and in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 5 is-a front elevation of amodified form of switch box with the cover removed, certain of the parts being broken away to show the same, and other parts in section, Fig.. 6 is a top plan view of the stoker itself, certain cover parts being omitted, the figure being arranged in two parts, one offset from the other. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through the grate. fuel supplying conduit, and ash removing mechanism, together with the power provided therefor. Fig. 8 is a central sectional view through the coal reservoir.

.taken in the plane 9-9 in Fig. '7 and in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of the invention, I

such modification being of the so-called singlecircuit type and the damper control being 816013130? magnetically operable. A

In Fig. 1 of the drawings,, there is illustrated -a furnace Ill of the hot air type having the usual fire door II and the ash door frame l2, the ash door being omitted therefrom. The furnace ill includes the smoke pipe l3 and mounted thereon is the main switch box It. The pipe [3 has an auxiliary inlet I5 and mounted therein is a vane or valve I6, the same being carried by the rock shaft H. An arm l8 terminates in an eye IS. The arm supports a 'valve counterbalancing weight 20 that is adjustably mounted as at 2| thereon. When valve I6 is entirely closed, the normal and full natural draft is secured through the ash door opening, through the fire, and thence through the smoke pipe and out the chimney. If the draft, by reason of relatively low outside temperatures. or by reason of high winds, is increased, then the valve I6 is automatically tilted by the suction in smoke pipe i 3 and air is by-passed into the smoke pipe which maintains a substantially uniform natural draft through the fire. The cable 22 is connected at one end to an adjustable arm 23 carried by the arm 24 detachably mounted as at 25 upon shaft 26 of the control motor mechanism 21. Guide pulleys 28 are associated with the cable. The other end of the cable terminates in a rod 23 that slides through .the eye I9 of the arm l8 and carries upon its end a weight 30 which serves to maintain the cable taut at all times.

Whenever the fire is to be checked, the arm 24 is positioned so that the rod 29 is elevated, rocking the shaft l'l so that the valve or plate I6 is tilted into the open position, thereby accomplishing the same effect as if the check damper on the usual furnace construction were open;

Positioned at any suitable location in the house to be heated by the furnace, is a thermostat construction 32 which has two adjustable contacts 33 and 34 adapted for selective engagement by the contact 35 carried by the finger 36 of a coil thermostat 31, or an equivalent thermostatic for which the contact 34 is set, a circuit is completed from contact 34 through the thermostat 31 or equivalent arrangement, and current is supplied, in the absence of any other intervening conditions, to energize the fuel feeding motor 38. Whenever the temperature in the house or room in which the thermostat is mounted, increases, the thermostat expands and the member 36 moves to the right (see Fig. 1) so that contact 35 engages contact 33, which energizes the motor control mechanism to open the circuit to the fuel feeding motor 38, thereby stopping any further fuel supply and opens the check damper.

For normal operation, it is assumed that the fire is in proper condition to receive fuel.

The control motor mechanism 21 is conventionally illustrated in the upper right hand portion of Fig. 1. The shaft 26 mounts a cam contact member. 39 which is adapted to alternately engage contacts 48 and 4|. The control includes a conventional motor 42 and a shaft 43 rotatable thereby operates a switch actuating member 44 having the elevated portions 45 and 46. The shaft 43 also operates a switch member 41 having the semi-circular contact 48. Associated with semi-circular contact 48 is a brush 49. The control motor mechanism includes a transformer primary 58 and a secondary 5|. The primary 58 is connected by lines 52 and 53 to the main lines 54 and 55. A master switch 56 is arranged to close the circuit from supply lines 51. When main switch 56 is closed, the primary 58 is energized and the secondary 5| of the transformer is also energized when the secondary including circuit is closed. The shaft 43 is operatively connected to the shaft 26 for equal speed of rotation. Line 58 connects one terminal of motor 42 to one terminal of the secondary. Line 59 connects the other terminal of the secondary 5| to thermostat 32 by means of the jumper 68 and the line 6| to coil 31 thereof. The contact 34 of the thermostat is connected to line 62 and by a jumper 63 to a terminal 64 of a mercury switch I33. The other terminal 65 thereof is connected by line 66 to a line 61, in turn, connected to line 68 connected to contact 4|.

Contact 33 is connected by line 69 to line 18, in turn, connected to one terminal H of another mercury switch I29, the other terminal 12 of which is connected by line 13 to a line 14, in turn, connected by line 15 to the other contact 48. Mercury switches I33 and I29 for normal fire conditions, are normally closed as shown in the middle left hand portion of Fig. 1. When the thermostat closes the circuit through the contacts 34 and 35, the control motor circuit through the secondary is closed and the control motor 42 begins to turn. Upon its initial movement, the engagement of the arcuate switch member 39 with the adjacent contact 48 or 4| is broken but this action occurs subsequent to the dropping of the switch member 16 upon the relieved portion of the cam switch 4445--46 so that the switch member 16 connected by line I11 to one terminal of the secondary engages the contact 11 and a line 18 therefrom maintains the control motor circuit through the line 19. The initial motor circuit is completed by the line 88 connected to contact 39 at one end and to the junction of lines 18 and 19 at the other end.

In other words, the motor circuit is initially made by the thermostat through the switch 39- or 48 and then maintained through the switch 16-11 and continued rotation of the control motor shaft 43 maintains the motor circuit but breaks the initiating circuit and the contact member 39 rotating in timed relation with the motor shaft and the cam switch 44, at the time it contacts the other of said contacts 48-4I, the switch member 16 engages the other enlargement 4546, thereby opening the control motor circuit and holding the motor circuit open in spite of the closing of the initiating circuit until the thermostat 36 carrying contact 35 has moved over to engage contact 33 to cut out the fuel motor control.

The motor control switch, it will be recalled, has the arcuate switch 48 for contact purposes and the remainder of the portion for open circuit purposes. The contact 48 of this rotary switch is connected by line 8| to the line 54, while the brush 49 is connected by line 82 to a line 83 leading to one terminal 84 of a mercury switch. The other terminal 85 of this mercury switch is connected by line 86 to the fuel feeding motor 38. The other line of the fuel feeding motor is connected to the line 88, in turn, connected to line 55. Thus, when the circuit is closed through the mercury switch contacts 84-85, the fuel supplying motor 38 is energized. Before this action, however, can occur, the mercury switch must be actuated and the operative mechanism therefor includes a power device which in Figs. 1 and 3, is illustrated as a self-starting induction motor 93 while in Fig. 5, the same is illustrated as a solenoid operable device.

A line 89 is connected to one terminal of a coil 98 of the induction motor while the other line 88 is connected to line 9| of the coil. The induction motor includes the laminated core 92, the rotor or armature 93, and the lateral laminated cores 94. The armature 93 drives gear reduction unit enclosed as at 95 and the exposed pinion 96 thereof meshes with a gear 91 in the main switch box. Gear 91 mounts an eccentric pin 98 that is connected by a link 99 to a slide I88 guided as at I8I. Slide I88 includes the low portion I82, the elevating portion I83 and the elevated portion I84.

A lever arm I85 is pivotally supported at I86 in an adjustably mounted bearing I81 and is normally constrained as at I88 toward a predetermined position. The lever arm I85 mounts a roller I89 which engages, by reason of the spring I88, a cam ||8 mounted on a shaft III. The lower end of the lever arm I85 pivotally supports at II2 a switch carrier II3 that'pivotally supports a roller II4 adapted because of gravity to engage the bar I88 before mentioned. As soon as the control circuit is closed for conditioning the operation of the stoker motor 38, the automatic starting of the induction motor occurs. This causes the slide member I88 to be moved a suflicient amount to elevate roller I I4 and with it the switch carrier I I3, thereby tilting counterclockwise the mercury switch 84-85 and causing the mercury to short circuit the two terminals 84 and 85. When this occurs, the motor 38 derives power from themain lines 51 and the fuel feeding occurs. In Fig. 1, switch I99 15 shown in open circuit position and carrier H3 is similarly positioned.

As soon as the predetermined time cycle elapses by reason of the continued rotation of the induction motor, the switch 84--85 is permitted to tilt clockwise by gravity, by the movement to the left of the slide I80 whereupon the stoker motor circuit is opened. This operation is repeated as long as the thermostat calls for heat. In other words. the stoker motor may be intermittently energized during the period that the thermostat calls for heat. The actual duration of the closed circuit period for'the motor 38 is determinable by a cam I I carried by shaft II I. Reference will now be had to Fig. 2 wherein the construction of the cam operating structure is illustrated.

The cam switch housing I4 has mounted upon its-back a hub structure having the tubular portion H2 and the plate portion H3, the latter being slotted as at I I 5. Rotatably mounted therein is a tube I I6 which, at its end nearest the housing I4, mounts a plate I II from which extends an arm I I8 that projects through the slot H5. Slot H5 is of appreciable size and arcuate so that the arm H8 can be manipulated for adjustment of the tube H6.

A set screw H9 carried by the arm is adapted to frictionally engage the casing I4 of the main switch and anchor the tube H6 in the adjusted position. The other end of the tube H6 as at I20, is rigidly secured to a bi-metallic coil strip thermostat I2I, the other end of which is rigidly secured as at I22 to the extended prolongation of the shaft II I. For protection purposes, the cover tube I23 may be employed and the same may be apertured as at I24 for ash deposit discharge. The tube I23 and thermostat included therein is positioned in the smoke pipe I3 as indicated at H4, in the lower left hand portion of Fig. 1. As the condition of the fire changes, the temperature of the draft and exhaust gases through the fire and through the smoke pipe changes accordingly. Thus, a high fire will cause an extension of the thermostat which will cause rotation of the shaft I II and thereby cause .rotation of the cam H0. A low fire will cause a contraction of the thermostat and thereby cause a reverse rotation of the cam H0. In other words, for a low fire, a considerable shorter period of motor operation will be obtained because the cam H0 cooperates with the roller I09 on lever I05 to decrease the period of closed circuit conditionobtained through the mercury switch 84-85 and vice versa for a high fire condition. In addition to this thermostatic control of the stoker or fuel motor operation, additional controls are provided and these are included in the switch I4 and are shown in the middle portion of the left hand side of Fig. 1, parts of the same having been heretofore described.

Rigid with the shaft III is a dial I25. An arm I26 having the indicating portion I 3I is rigidly but adjustably mounted on the shaft I II as at I28 and said arm I26 supports the mercury tube switch I29 which at one end includes the terminals II and I2, before mentioned. A similar arm I30 having the indicator I 21 is adjustably secured to the shaft III as at I32 and supports amercury switch I33, the latter including at :one end the terminals 64 and 65, before men- :tion-ed. Mercury switch I29 at itsopposite end includes the terminals I34 and I35, terminal I35 being connected by line. I36 to the line 63 and line 62 as shown in Fig. 1. Terminal I34 of mercury switch I29 is connected by line I31 to line 60 and line M as illustrated.

Mercury switch I33 includes the terminals I38 and I39, terminal I38 being connected by line I to line 60 and line 59. Terminal I39 is connected by line I4I to lines 13 and I I as shown. Tl. ese constitute the high and low fire control swatches and the position of shaft III as before sta "ed serves to controL the position of these mercury switches I29 and I33 which move simultaneously. I

It will be noted that the circuit through the mercury switch I29 (contacts 'II and I2) is normally closed while the circuit through the contacts I34 and I35 is normally opened. Similarly, the circuit through the mercury switch I33 (contacts 64 and 65) is normally closed and through the contacts I38 and I39 is normally opened.

In order words, when these circuits are normally closed through the switches but which are interrupted or opened when a high or low fire condition is obtained in a furnace and then the circuits are made through the other switches. In other words, if the shaft III rotates counterclockwise, the circuit through contacts 'II and I2 remain closed, the circuit through the contacts 64 and 65 is opened and the circuit through the contacts I38 and I39 is closed. For a reverse thermal condition when the shaft III. rotates clockwise, the circuit remains closed through the contacts 64 and 65, the circuit is opened through the contacts II and I2 and the circuit is closed through the contacts I34 and I35. Thus, high and low selective control is obtained through the switch arrangement, thereby insuring predetermined motor operation for feeding just the right amount of fuel that the fire can successfullyacdicates the housing, m the cam, 2H the shaft sponse to thermal changes in the smoke pipe. Cam 2H engages the roller 209 carried by the lever arm 205 pivoted at 206 in the support 201 adjustably mounted as shownupon the casing. The lever arm 205 is pivotally connected at M2 to a link or carrier 2I3 which mounts the fuel supplying motor mercury control switch indicated by the numeral 250 and having the terminals I80 and I85. These terminals correspond to the terminals 84 and 85 in the motor control switch shown in Fig. 1. The spring 208 normally constrains the roller 209 in contact with the cam. An additional spring253 may take the place of gravity employed as in the first mentioned switch arrangement and gravity and/or'spring 253 normally constrains the arm 2I3 carrying the roller 2I4 intocontact with the relieved portion 202 of the reciprocating member or non magnetic core 200 having the elevated portion 204 and the intermediate portion 203. Means for reciprocating this mechanism is of a different type than that shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Herein the reciprocating member 200 is shown as attached to the magnetic core I9] of a solenoid associated with which is a coil I90. Mercury switchcontact I 85 is connected to line I86, the same corresponding to mounting the cam and which is oscillated in reline 86 connecting to the stoker motor 38 in Fig. 1.

is directly across the lines I92 and I88, these corresponding to lines 82 and 88 leading from the motor control switch in Fig. 1. The line I98 as before mentioned, is connected to line I92 at one end and at its opposite end to the switch contact I84 of mercury switch 259. The line I89, in addition to being connected to the coil I90 through line I9I, is connected to the line I81 that leads directly to the fuel feeding motor 38. In this form of the invention, it will be apparent that there is interposed from the line I89 an additional switch 254. This is a make and break" switch which is normally closed, but which, when actuated, opens the circuit at the high point of the travel of the member 299, the member 299 being returned by gravity or spring 253a and the rate of returning being controlled. This mechanism corresponds to the induction'motor type shown in Figs. 1 and 3. In Fig. 5, a pivoted arm I92 is carried by a support I93 adjustably mounted upon the frame 2I4. The arm I93, in addition to supporting the mercury switch 254, adjustably supports a stop or actuating member I94.

In this form of the invention, the reciprocating member 299 includes lateral projections I95 and I96. When the member 299 is in its lowest position, there being then no energization in the coil I99, the lines I92 and I89 being opened through the motor control switch, the mercury switch 254 is tilted clockwise so that the circuit is normally the lines I82 and I89 by the control motor switch,

the solenoid is energized and the core 299 is elevated, which carries upwardly the arm I95 and serves to open the solenoid circuit when the desired amount of travel has occurred. When the circuit is broken by the engagement of the member I94 by the arm or lateral projection I95, the coil I99 is deenergized. Gravity operating on the core serves to return the same to the initial or lowered position. In this return movement, the arm I96 may engage the top of the member I94 for repositioning the switch 254 in the closed circuit position.

The lower end of the core terminates in a magnetic piston I91 that is slidably mounted in a cylinder I98 having the relief port I99. The lower end of the cylinder includes an intake opening 229 controlled by a ball check 22I. It also includes a discharge opening 222 with which is associated an adjustable regulating valve 223, the latter being supported by a reservoir 224. when the solenoid is energized, fluid, which may be oil or may be air, in the reservoir 224 rushes into the cylinder I98, passes the check valve 22I through the port 229. The back pressure in the cylinder behind the piston I91 is relieved through port I99. Upon de-energization of the solenoid I99, the weight of the core tends to return the piston and in so doing, the fluid trapped in the cylinder I99 initially closes the check HI and the rate of return is regulated by the rate of discharge of the fluid supplied to cylinder I98 and discharged through the regulated discharge opening 222. In this way, the time cycle of the reciprocation of the member 229 can be regulated and in this respect this form of the invention has greater flexibility or universal adaptability than the induction motor type motive power for reciprocating the member I99 shown in Fig. 1.

It will also be understood that the high and low fire control switches shown in Fig. 1 as mounted upon the shaft III can also be incorporated in and included as a part of the switch mechanism shown in Fig. 5 and would be mounted upon shaft 2 in exactly the same manner. The wiring diagram of the system including the switch figure shown in Fig. 5 then would be identical with that shown in Fig. l with the addition of the solenoid controlling switch 254 included in the line to the solenoid, whereas the induction motor in Fig. 1 is connected directly across the line without any switch for breaking its circuit other than the switch in the motor control switch device, which switch is also utilized with the form of switch device shown in Fig. 5 so that the motor control switch for controlling the power supply to the mechanism for the reciprocating member 299 is in series with the switch 254 shown in Fig. 5 to open the solenoid circuit.

Other forms of mechanisms may be employed to transfer the motion of the shaft II I or 2 to the roller I99 or 299, respectively, or their equivalents as will be well understood by those skilled in machine design and such mechanisms are to be considered within the scope of the invention, reference being bad to the appended claims.

Stoker mechanism Reference will now be had to Figs. 1, and 6 to 8, inclusive, for a description to the stoker applied to the furnace construction, and said stoker is arranged to automatically supply pea coke or the like and to automatically remove the ashes from the furnace and discharge them into an ash receptacle and as shown in Fig. 1, the fuel storage and the ash storage are combined in a single unit.

In the lower part of Fig. 1, the stoker mechanism is shown associated with the furnace I9. The details of the stoker mechanism are shown most clearly in Figs. 6 to 9. Positioned in the ash pit of the furnace and substantially closing the fire bowl of the furnace and replacing the usual grates is a grate structure. It is supported by a main casting 499 and the height thereof is adjusted by the adjustable support 49I that bears on the bottom of the furnace or ash pit floor. The casting 499 terminates in an elbow 49 la. having the bell or flange 492 adapted to nestingly receive the lower end of a sleeve 493. The sleeve 493 includes near its upper end a laterally projecting flange or plate 494 that is suitably apertured as at.495. These apertures are of arcuate formation as shown in Fig. 6. The sleeve extends upwardly beyond the plate as at 496,- and seated thereon and retained in position by the.

portion 496 is a grate bar supporting ring in the form of a sleeve 491 and a lateral flange or plate 498 apertured as at 499. Each aperture 499 receives a circular downwardly directed extension 9 of a grate bar.

Each grate bar is arch-shaped (see Fig. 7) and is segmental in outline (see Fig. 6). The grate bar is indicated by the numeral M I and includes .along each of its radial sides the notches H2 and extending through and in radial alignment are the slots 8. The grate bars upon their upper curved surface include projecting portions 4, best shown in Fig. '7. The projections 4 I4 at each side of each segment are offset with respect to the projections upon the adjacent segment. This is clearly shown in Fig. 6, and in the movement of the segments as hereinafter set forth, these projections have a shearing action relative to each other. The outer periphery of the grate bar, which is shown arcuate and which is at its lower end indicated by the numeral 5, is provided with a radial notch 6, (see Fig. 6) adapted to receive or nest a pin or abutment 4Il carried by an oscillating ring 4|8. Fuel is supplied through the elbow 4M0. and is forced upwardly into the central opening formed in the grate. By the peripheral arrangement of the grate bars, the fuel moves upwardly and gradually is forced outwardly and falls by gravity toward the outside of the grate. Air for combustion passes upwardly through the openings 4!!! in the oscillating ring structure 418, as well as through the openings 405 and thence passes upwardly through the openings 2 and through the openings M3 in the grate bars to the fuel.

The rate of'fuel feeding is such that by the time the fuel has moved from the central opening to the ring 8, it is in the form of an ash. By means hereinafter set forth, all of the peripherally arranged grate bars are simultaneously oscillated to and fro in the fuel feeding movement. In this movement, there is a radial shearing action obtained between adjacent grate bars and upon the fuel. This keeps the fuel broken up and prevents mass coking and also reduces any olinkers that may tend to form. One extreme oscillation position is shown by the full lines in Fig. 6. Another extreme oscillation position and in the opposite direction is shown by the dotted lines AA in Fig. 6. For clearness, only two of the grate segments are illustrated in the first position and two others are diagrammatically indicated in the other position.

Small ash, which falls through the grates near the central tube for fuel supply instead of collectlng around the member 4lll, passes through the openings 405 and thence downwardly and collects upon the floor of the ash pit. This ash is usually in the. form of a; very fine powder. The larger ash discharges through the openings M9 and collects upon the floor of the furnace. The plate 4l8 includes a plurality of reenforcing ribs 424 that are arranged in spaced relation about the periphery of the ring and depend therefrom and have a vertical face 42l that lies adjacent the tube 422. The tube 422 has an inturned flange at its upper end 423 that rides upon the projecting portion 424 of the plate 444 and lies flush therewith as shown in Fig. 7.

' The tube 422 includes a flange 425 that lies below the level of the flange 423 and is directed outwardly, whereas the flange 423 is directed inwardly. The same constitutes a-support for the ring 448. The flange 425 as shown clearly in Fig. 6, is radiallyslotted as at 425 and the Webbing 420, before mentioned, extends through and is seated in said slots so that there is an interlocking connection between the ring 448 and the tube 422.

The flange 425 of the tube 422 includes a wedge-shaped tapered slot 424. A wedge-shaped bar has one end seated in this wedge-shaped slot 421? and the vertical depending portion 428 of said bar terminates at its lower end in an outreciprocation it alternately turns the ring M8 in one direction and then in the opposite direction. This causes the grate bars to move from the full line position in Fig. 6 to dotted line positreme position, the cross bar 434 is shown in the neutral position representing an intermediate position from that shown by the full lines of the grate segments therein and the dotted lines A-A of the grate segments in the other extreme position.

Power mechanism The motor 38 isconnected by the coupling 444 to a shaft 4M and mounted thereon is'a worm 442 that meshes with a worm wheel 443 on shaft 444. The shaft 444 mounts a worm 445 that meshes with a worm wheel 446 carried by the ash removing conveyor .shaft 441i. Reference will be had later to the construction and operation of the ash removing mechanism.

The shaft 444 mounts a pinion 448 meshing with a gear 449 that carries an eccentric 454 that reciprocates a connecting rod 454 connected to the fuel feeding mechanism in the form of a ram or plunger which will be set forth more in detail hereinafter.

The pin 454, upon its free end, mounts a roller 452 which is positioned in the elongated slot 454 in the arm 454 that is pivotally supported as at 455. The arm 454 pivotally supports as at 455,

a pawl 451i constrained by spring 454 into engage-' rotation and this causes reciprocation of the link 431 for oscillating the grate segments by rocking of the arm 434.

Reference will now be had to Figs. 1, 6, '7 and 8.

In Fig. 1, there is illustrated a container 455 which, near its lower end, includes an opening closed by a suitable door structure 464 and intermediate the ends is a partition 467; The partition 461 divides the receptacle 465 into a fuel hopper and an ash receiver. The fuel hopper, near its upper end, includes a screen 468 (see Fig. 8) that prevents the discharge of fuel or other material of a size greater than the mesh of said screen into the hopper and, therefore, prevents subsequent clogging of the fuel feeding mechanism. A suitable cover 454 having a handle 414 may be provided. The container also is apertured-(see Figs. 1 and 8) as at 4'4! and an arm 412 (see Fig. 6 particularly) is adiustably connected at its lower end (see Fig. 1) as at 424 (see Fi 6) to a lever arm 4T4 carried by shaft 455 that mounts the am 454. Thus, the memher 442 is reciprocated to and fro through the opening 444 of the casing.

In the fuel containing portion of the hopper, the lower portion thereof is flared inwardly as at 4l5 from the back and from the two opposite sidesso that gravity discharge of the fuel toward the opening 475 is obtained.

The combination hood and chute is indicated generally by the numeral 414 (see Fig. l) and as shown in Fig. 8 includes an upper chute portion 418 and a lower passage portion 419.. The lower part of the hopper includes a sliding plate 484 and pivotally connected thereto as at 48! is the veyor into the basket 499.

offset portion or end of arm 412. This portion is operatively associated with the reciprocating plate 480 and the reciprocation of the plate is permitted since the partition 481 includes the opening 482 for that purpose. This includes the gradual forward feeding of the fuel at the bottom of the hopper toward the discharge opening 416 where it falls by gravity through the chute 418 into the mouth 483 of the fuel supplying conduit 484.

Mounted in the conduit 484 is a plunger or ram 485 having a relatively elongated skirt 486 and connected to the connecting rod 45I as at 481. Extending forwardly from the plunger and at each side thereof (see Figs. 7 and 9) are a pair of arms 488, the same being offset laterally and inwardly as at 489 and terminating in an inwardly tapered edge 490.

Extending from the bottom of the plunger is a similar member 49I and these members 488 and 49I assist in the forward movement of the fuel and prevent clogging of the fuel in the conduit 484, which terminates in the elbow 40Ia (seeFig. '7) When the motor 38 (see Figs. 1 and 6) is energized, the mechanism is arranged to reciprocate the plunger 485 and thus feed forwardly the fuel supplied to the conduit 484 through the chute 418.

As before mentioned, positioned beneath the fuel supplying conduit 484 is a shaft 441 that is mounted at its remote end in a bearing 492. Said shaft carries a worm or spiral 493 that ends in the vertical plane of the chute receiving mouth 483. The shaft between said mouth and forwardly thereof has a reverse spiral 494 that cooperates with the spiral 493 so that ashes drawn from the ash pit by the spiral or screw 493 are caused to stop their horizontal movement at the junction of these two spirals and the shaft. The shaft 441 mounts a sprocket 495 and operatively associated therewith is a chain conveyor 496. The chain conveyor 496 has projecting outwardly therefrom the blades 491, and these blades serve to convey the ash brought to the junction of the two spirals or screws upwardly through the chute portion 419 by conveying them along the bottom portion of said chute.

The ash portion of the container 465 includes a discharge platform 498 that constitutes a continuation of the bottom portion of the chute 419. This discharge portion overhangs an ash receiving basket 499. The conveyor is associated with a sprocket 500 mounted in the bracket 58I carried by the container 465. To insure parallelism in the upper and lower runs of the conveyor, 9. support and guide 502-is provided which lies above the portion 498. The container includes the opening 503 with which the chute 419 registers. With this mechanism, the ashes are withdrawn from the ash pit by the the screw or spiral and then are conveyed upwardly into the container 465 and discharged by the chain con- The door 466 in the lower portion of the container 485 may be opened when desired and the basket removed for ash disposal. I

It will be noted that with the foregoing device, no additional ash receiving mechanism is required below the grate. In other words, if the ashes have collected in a sufficient amount in the bottom of the ash pit, the screw or,spiral serves to remove the excess ashes to the basket. In other words, the ashes that are not removed serve to form a hopper by which additional ashes are discharged to the spiral.

In Fig. 10 of the drawings, there is illustrated the casing 6I4' of the control motor switch and the casing includes the lever arm 605 pivoted at 606 and supporting the roller 889 engageable by cam 6I0 carried by the thermally rotatable shaft 5 6I I. A carrier member 6I3 includes a roller 6| 4 that rides upon the member 602 that is reciprocated through the electric power device which, in the present form, is shown as of the induction motor typefthe same being indicated by the numeral 695, and the energization being furnished by the coil 690 supplied by lines 89I and 889. The switch structure shown in Fig. 5 may be substituted therefor.

The main switch 880 is adapted to connect line 15 882 to a terminal I888 of a mercury switch I081. The other terminal I009 is connected by a line 883 to a terminal 885 Ma mercury switch 599 carried by the arm 6I3. The other terminal 884 of said switch is connected by line 686 to the motor 838. The other terminal of the motor is connected by line 881 to the main power line through the switch 888.

As shown in Fig. 10, the check or by-pass draft valve structure is in closed position and the additional mercury switch I001 is arranged in closed circuit position and the switch 599 is also arranged in closed circuit position so that the motor 638 is energized. This is the fuel supplying motor. This electro-magnetic type of check valve control may be readily substituted in Fig. 1 for that shown therein, since it is of the mechanically actuated type.

The primary 650 of the transformer is connected by line 652 to the line 682 and is connected to line 681 by line 653. The primary 650 is, therefore, directly across the line. When the switch 808 is closed, the secondary 65I is conditioned to supply current by line 811 to the thermostat 831, the same being connected to theline 611 by the line 68I. The thermostat 631 carries the member 636 and contacts at 635 adapted to engage the adjustable contact 634 connected by line 882 to line 883, which is connected to the terminal 664 of the mercury switch 633, the other terminal 45 665 of which is connected by line 886 to a line 881 in turn, connected by line 89I to the induction motor 890. The return line 889 from the induction motor 898 is connected to line 659 and the circuit is closed through the secondary.

In other words, under normal conditions when the thermostat is closed calling for heat, the circuit is completed through the mercury switch 833 and to the induction motor, causing energization of the induction motor and movement of the slide 882 to tilt the mercury switch 599 to close the circuit to the main motor 838, this circuit being closed, however, only because the switch I801 has been closed. That is, the check is closed when the thermostat calls for heat.

This closing of the check valve 8I6 is accomplished by the solenoid I 800 connected by line I88I to the line 686 and the return I082 is connected to the return line 659. Energization of the solenoid serves to pull downwardly the core 65 I803 and the stern I029 thereof carries an adjustable plate I805 that bears upon a spring I 084 that normally tends to return the core in elevated position. The stem I829 carries an adjustable plate I006 that bears upon an abutment IOI0 with the lever arm 6I8 secured to the shaft 6I1 that supports the check damper 6| 6 in the smoke pipe auxiliary inlet 8I5. The arm 8I8 upon its extended portion, adjustably supports as at 82I, a weight 820.

Upon the thermostat calling for heat, the solenoid is energized and in opposition to spring i tilt, the check Bi is closed, thereby conditioning the draft for firing. The actual fuel supplied to the fire and the duration thereof is determinable by the thermally controlled cam fill] on shaft till i engaging the cam roller 609. The initial energization of the solenoid lilllll conditions switch lllfll to closed circuit position and this is held closed during all the period that the thermostat is calling for heat, even though the motor circuit through the switch 599 be not closed. This is for the purpose of opening the stoker motor circuit immediately upon opening of the thermostat switch or other control switches, since switch 5% may at this time be in closed circuit position.

It is to be noted that the shape of cams Mil, 2H] and filli may be varied from that shown to any desired conformation. The general operation thereof, however, remains the same.

Under abnormal high fire conditions, the shaft Bil is tilted counter-clockwise so that the switch 633 is in open circuit position. When thus positioned, the fuel supplying motor 538 will not be energized and neither will the induction motor and neither will the solenoid. This is the abnormal high fire condition. For low fire, the shaft til is rotated clockwise and in so doing, the cam Elli will secure actuation of the arm tit by slide 602 and, therefore, secure a shorter interval of actual motor operation. The current under this type of operation will not flow through the thermostat when it does not call for heat, and will follow the lines 536 and 53? of the switch 529, then through the switch 633 and the circuit will be closed through the solenoid iilllii. In other words, the thermostat is short circuited. Under outfire arrangement conditions, even though the thermostat calls for fuel, the fuel motor will not supply fuel becausecam till is not positioned to position roller El i inoperative to slide 6112 to secure tilting of arm M3 and closing of motor control switch 599.

The foregoing detailed description of the several illustrated forms of the invention is merely for the purpose of illustration and is not to be considered of a limiting character. The various modifications thereof, which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in this art are all considered to be within the broad purview-of this invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a furnace control system, the combination of a fuel feeding motor, a room temperature responsive switch, a self starting induction motor, a motor operable switch responsive to the room temperature switch for controlling the induction motor, and a fire condition responsive control switch operatively associated with the self-starting induction motor and controlling the fuel feeding motor.

2. In a furnace control system, the combination of a fuel feeding motor, a room temperature responsive switch arranged to attempt to initiate motor operation, a self starting induction motor, a motor operable switch responsive to the room temperature switch for controiling the induction motor, and a fire condition responsive control switch for controlling the fuel feeding motor.

3. In a furnace stoker control system having a fuel rationing feature, an electrically operated stoker, a stoker operation timing device, a room thermostat normally in control of said timing device, and means associated with said device and responsive to fire conditions in the furnace varying the period of operation of said device whereby less fuel is fed into the furnace by the stoker under low fire conditions and more fuel is fed therein under high fire conditions, the variations in fuel supply being independent of .-the demand of said thermostat.

4. In a furnace stoker control system having a fuel rationing feature, an electrically operated stoker, a stoker operation timingv device, a room thermostat normally in control of said timing device, and means associated'with said device and responsive to fire conditions in the furnace varying the period of operation of said device whereby less fuel is fed into the furnace by the stoker under low fire conditions and more fuel is fed therein under high fire conditions, the variations in fuel supply being independent of the demand of said thermostat, said stoker operation timing device normally causing the stoker to operate intermittently in off and on cycles, said means varying the on cycle, and means responsive to a furnace condition of low fire causing said device to operate independently of said thermostat.

5. In a furnace stoker control system having a fuel rationing feature, an electrically operated stoker, a stoker operation timing device, a room thermostat normally in control of said timing device, and means associated with said device and responsive to fire conditions in the furnace varying the period of operation of said device whereby less fuel is fed into the furnace by the stoker under low fire conditions and more fuel is fed therein under high fire conditions, the variations in fuel suppy being independent of the demand of said thermostat, and means responsive to a furnace condition of high fire rendering said means inoperative independently of said thermostat.

6. In a furnace stoker control system, a regulator for rationing the fuel supplied a burner by the stoker in proportion to the rate of burning comprising a moving member operating in timed sequence irrespective of fire conditions at said burner, an abutment on the moving member, a stoker control tiltable switch member, an arm connecting with the switch member adapted to be shifted over said abutment, and means responsive to fire conditions at said burner for shifting said arm, said arm being also rockably mounted and so formed to have movement of said abutment normally cause rocking of the arm to tilt said switch.member, the degree of shifting of the arm in relation to said abutment determining the length of time required by the abutment to rock the arm.

'7. In a furnace stoker control system, a regulater for rationing the fuel supplied a burner by the stoker in proportion to the rate ,of burning comprising a moving member operating in timed sequence irrespective of fire conditions at said burner, an abutment on the moving member, a stoker control tiltable switch member, an arm connecting with the switch member adapted to be shifted over said abutment, and means responsive to fire conditions at 'said burner for shifting said arm, said arm being also rockably mounted and so formed to have movement of said abutment normally cause rocking of the arm to tilt said switch member, the degree of shifting of the arm in relation to said abutment determining the length of time acquired by the abutment to rock the arm, said arm and abutment being so relatively formed as to have said switch member in an open position when said fire responsive means has shifted said arm upon an out-fire condition.

8. In a furnace stoker control system,-a regulator for rationing the fuel supplied aburner by the stoker in proportion to the rate of burning comprising a moving member operating in timed sequence irrespective of fire conditions at said burner, an abutment on the moving member, a stoker control tiltable switch member, an arm connecting with the switch member adapted to be shifted over said abutment, and means responsive to fire conditions at said burner for shifting said arm, said arm being also rockably mounted and so formed to have movement of said abutment normally cause rocking of the arm to tilt said switch member, the degree of shifting of the arm in relation to said abutment determining the length of time required by the abutment to rock the arm, and a room thermostat switch normally controlling operation of said moving member.

9. In a furnace Stoker control system, a regulator for rationing the fuel supplied a burner by the stoker in proportion to the rate of burning comprising a moving member operating in timed sequence irrespective of fire conditions at said burner, an abutment on the moving member, a stoker control tiltable switch member, an arm connecting with the switch member adapted to be shifted over said abutment, and means responsive-to fire conditions at said burner for shifting said arm, said arm being also rockably mounted and so formed to have movement of said abutment normally cause rocking of the arm 'to tilt sai-d switch member, the degree of shifting tions to permit operation then of said moving member irrespective of said thermostat.

10. In a furnace stoker control system, a regulator for rationing the fuel supplied a burner by the stoker in proportion to the rate of burning comprising a moving member operating in timed sequence irrespective of fire conditions at said burner, an abutment on the moving member, a stoker control tiltable switch member, an arm connecting with the switch member adapted to be shifted over said abutment, and means responsive to fire conditions at said burner for Y shifting said arm, said arm being also rockably mounted and so formed to have movement of said abutment normally cause rocking of the arm to tilt said switch member, the degree of shifting of the arm in relation to said abutment determining the length of time required by the abutment to rock the arm, and a room thermostat switch normally controlling operation of said moving member, and a low fire switch member actuated by said fire responsive means for shunting said thermostat switch under low fire conditions to permit operation then of said moving member irrespective of said thermostat, and a high fire switch member actuated by said fire responsive means in series with said thermostat switch.

11. A device for controlling a burner supplied fuel by a stoker including the combination of a thermostat in the spaces heated and a regulator actuated by variations of fire conditions at the burner normally under control of the thermostat, said regulator having means for varying the amount of fuel fed to the burner on each operation of the stoker directly in proportion to said fire condition, less fuel being fed under low fire conditions and increasing amounts of fuel fed as the rate of combustion at the burner increases. 1

FORREST L. HITCHCOCK. 

